Suction cleaner



Aug. 28, 1951 L. K. ACHESON SUCTION CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1945 Aug. 28, 1951 L. K. ACHESON SUCTION CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1945 In 0e27207" lozzzls' Zia/76.507?

Patented Aug. 28, 1951 SUCTION CLEANER Louis K. Acheson,

North Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, a corporation of Ohio Ohio,

Application April 26, 1945, Serial No. 590,457

1 17 Claims. The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and more particularly to a new and improved cleaner in which the cleaner filter is automatically cleaned and the dirt transported therefrom to a receptacle which is easily removed from the cleaner. More specifically the invention relates to a suction cleaner of the type having an initial dirt separator, suction-creating means, and a final dirt separator, means being included by which the collected foreign material is all deposited in one receptacle which is removable from the cleaner for emptying purposes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner of the type incorporating an initial dirt separator, suction-creating means, and a final dirt separator. A further object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner of the type having an initial dirt separa tor, suction-creating means, and a final dirt separator, and in which means are provided by which the final dirt separator maybe cleaned and the dirt removed therefrom and deposited in the receptacle of the initial dirt'separator which is easily removed from the machine for emptying purposes. A still further object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner of the type having a final dirt separator which is adapted to be vibrated by the operator to shake therefrom collected foreign material, air-moving means being provided to transport the dislodged foreign material to a removable receptacle forming a part of the initial dirt separator. Still another object of the invention is to provide in a suction cleaner an initial dirt separator, suction-creating means, and a final dirt separator, in combination with means by which the operator may vibrate the final dirt separator to dislodge therefrom collected foreign material and simultaneously direct a flow of cleaning air through the final dirt separator chamber to carry dislodged foreign ma terial therefrom to the receptable of the initial dirt separator which is readily displaced for emptying purposes. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon consid ering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed and in which the same reference character refers to the same part throughout:

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the motor and fan unit per se;

Figure 4 is a partial vertical section upon the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and illustrates the operatoropera-ble bag-shaking mechanism.

Figure 5 is a vertical section upon the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and discloses the cross section of the bag which provides an increased cleaning area.

The cleaner is seen to be formed with a main elongated outer casing, illustrated as cylindrical although this is not important, which bears the reference character I. The opposite ends of easing I are closed by end caps 2 and 3, the latter being semi-permanently secured and being provided with an exhaust outlet 4 adapted to receive and seat a dusting tool connector when the machine is to be used for blowing. End cap 2 is removable, being suitably secured by any desired manually releasable means and is formed with an inlet port 6 which is adapted to receive and seat the dusting tool hose connector when the machine is to be used as a suction. cleaner. A conduit I extends inwardly from inlet port 6 and a dirt receptacle or container 8, which conforms to the inner contour of the casing I, is removable with the end cap 2. Along the top side of body I is semi-permanently secured an elongated chan nel member 9 which forms with the body I a conduit adapted to house the electrical connections and to which is secured a handle II by which the entire cleaner may be lifted. The entire machine is slidably supported upon parallel runners I2 secured along its opposite side so that it may be pulled about upon a supporting surface.

The interior of the casing I i divided by spaced bulkheads I3 and I4 into an initial dirt separator chamber IS, a final dirt separator chamber I1, and an exhaust chamber l8. The driving motor I9 is carried by the bulkhead I3 together with the multi-stage fan unit 2| which comprises a plurality of rotating fans 22 carried by the shaft of motor I 9 within a fan cham. ber 23. The fans function to draw air into an elongated inlet 24, force it through an interstage guide member 26, and exhaust it through ports 2'! into the final dirt separator chamber IT. A whirl chamber 29 formed with a converging for- Ward end is formed forwardlyof the fan chamber 23 and around the extended inlet 24 thereof, it being possible to form the fan chamber 23 and the whirl chamber 29 integrally, a shown. The

whirl chamber 29 is formed with an inlet 3! and cooperates with tubular member 24 to form a cyclone type dirt separator. Inlet 3| is connected to conduit 32 which is provided with a pair of branch conduits 33 and 34. Conduit 33 extends forwardly along the whirl chamber and its forward end forms a seat into which the inner end of the conduit 1 telescopes when the removable end cap 2 is in place. Conduit 3i extends downwardly around the whirl chamber, rearwardly through an aperture 35 at the bottom of the bulkhead l3, and along the bottom of the casing I to a point slightly forward of the rearward bulkhead M where it opens into dirt pant-I underlying the final filter.

The motor, fan chamber, and cyclone separator together with the conduits 32, 33 and 34, and dirt pan 31, are constructed to be assembled or disassembled through the end of the casing I normally closed by the end cap 2. The bulkhead l3 is normally secured to casing I inan airtight manner by screws 38. A bracket 39, secured between the end of the motor is and casing l cooperates with the bulkhead 13 in supporting the motor-fan assembly.

In the normal operation of the cleaner air is drawn by the action of the fans 22' through the inlet port and intothe whirl chamber 29 via the conduits I, 33 and 32 and inlet 3i, and is exhausted from the fan chamber through port Zlinto the final dirt separator chamber IT, port 21' being upon the rearward side of the bulkhead l3; Under certain circumstances, as will be described, it is desirable" that the air enter'the-fan chamber via the conduit 34' which leads from the final filter chamber and that the air from the inlet port 6 be shut off. To accomplish this result there is provided at the junction of the conduits 32, 33 and 34 a pivoted valve 43 which is intended to occupy one or the other of the dotted line positions illustrated in Figure 3 to close either the conduit 33 or the conduit it from communication with whirl chamber 29;. To accomplish this end, a crank arm 4 is fixedly connected to the valve 43. A tension spring 46 connected between arm 44 and bulkhead l3 normally holds valve 43 in position to close the passageway 34 leaving passageway 33 in communication with conduit l and inlet port 6. To overcome thespring 46 and tomove the valve 43 to close the passageway 33 and open the passageway 34 there is provided an electrical solenoid 41; the armature d8 otwhich has a pin and slot connection with the end of crank arm 44. When energized solenoid i'icauses its armature plunger 43 to be retracted thereupon vpivoting the valve to open the passageway 34 and close passageway 33. The circumstances under which this'operatiori takes place will be hereinafter described.

Bulkhead I4 makes sealing contact with the interior of the casing l around its periphery and, together with all parts carried thereby, is adapted to be inserted into the casin in the initial assembly of themachine before the end cap 3 is positioned. 'When once in place it is fixedly secured by any suitable means such as screws, etc., which are not shown.

Bulkhead I4 is provided with a port 5i which may be rectangular in contour, as illustrated in Figure 4. Theopposite side walls of port 5! carry a pair of vertically spaced pivots 52 upon each of which is mounted an inwardly extending link 53 The lower link upon each side is provided with an extension 54 extending reamvardly slightly beyond the face of bulkhead is. The inner ends of links 53 are pivotally secured, by means of screws 56, to a rigid bag ring 5'! which has a contour similar to that of port 5! and which is sealed to the bulkhead M by means of a flexible conduit 58 of rubber of similar airimpermeable material. A coil spring 59 connects each of the upper links 58 at its outer pivot point 56 to the vertically spaced lower links 53 at its inner pivot point 52 thereby exerting a force which tends to pull the bag ring 51 downwardly againstia stop 6| secured to the top side of 'port 5! by screwBZ. The bag ring 5'! is mounted and supported'by the links 53, the coil spring 59, and the stop-6i, and isivertically displaceable within restricted limits in an upward direction.

A plurality of bag-supporting rods 53 are carried byrthe bag ring 5! and extend therefrom into the final dirt separator chamber ii. A filter bag has its open mouth clamped to thebag ring Eff-by meansof a clamp 65* and is held" in the contour illustrated'in Figures 1' and 5 bythe rods 63 to provide arlarger filtering area than would otherwise be the case. The rods $3 them-v selves have slight flexibility and the bag, the rods; and the-bag ring 5? are movable as a unit upon the pivoted links 53;

Abrupt displacement'of the" final filter is accomplished by means of a vertically slidable plunger element 66 having a bifurcated lower end slidingly mounted on the rearward face of' the bulkhead M by means of" a" plurality of pinslil which seat within slots (:38 in the element. The upper end of plunger element 66 extends through a slot ll in casing I at a slot ii and is bent over-to form afoot pedal 69. Both the foot pedal and the plunger: element are normally urged upwardly by'a leaf spring: i2 secured .on the underside of the pedal.

Carried by'each arm of the bifurcated lower end of the plunger elemenftt is a pivoted pawl M which is normally held inan extended position overlying arms 54 of lower links fitiby' a looped spring I6. The relationship is'such that as the plunger element 56 is forced downwardly by an operator-exerted force upon the foot pedal fiflleach pawl 14 engages arms 54 of a pivoted link 53 and moves it downwardly to move bagsupporting ring 51 and filter 64 upwardly. This upward movement of the ring stretches the coil spring 59, the actionicontinuing until the pawls 51 slip off the ends of arms 54 thereby permitting the coil springs 59 to pull the ba ring downwardly and against the stop 6! abruptly. The resulting violent vibration and shaking of the bag 54 and the rods 63 effects the dislocation of dirt and foreign material adhering to the exterior surface thereof in a very effective manner. This dislodged material falls into the dirt pan 3?.

The depression of the foot pedal 59 closes a normally open microswitch 6! positioned within the channel element 9. Switch Si is" connected by a pair of leads 83 and 84 to one of the incoming power leads 85 and to the solenoid 41, the opposite side of the solenoid being connected by a lead Bl to the manually operable current controlling main switch 88, the lever 39 of whichextends through the top surface of the channel element 9. The leads 8S connect directly to the switch 88 and to the driving motor 19, the opposite side of the motor i9 being connected by a lead Hi to the aforementioned lead 81.

Closure of switch 8! energizes solenoid 41 and moves valve 43' so as to close conduit 33 and open conduit :51 to conduit 32-. Fan Z2 then draws air aeoegws through the-conduit 34 into the whirl chamber "ing action of the air exhausted by the fans is removed from the air stream and deposited within dirt receptacle 8.

In this cleaning operation of the final filter 64 the operator preferably reciprocates the foot pedal 69 a plurality of times, each time the bag being the recipient of violent vibrations as the ends 54 of the link 53 slide off from the pawls T4. In one preferred method of operation the foot pedal 69 is held depressed for a limited period of time to enable cleaning air to continue to flow through the dirt chamber ,1! and back into the whirl chamber 29 after each vibration of the bag. I

The operation of the machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is believed to be clear from the foregoing but. will be restatedbriefly. In normal cleaning operation a dusting tool hose unit is connected to the inlet 6 and switch 88 is closed to energize driving motor IS. The high speed rotation of the fans 22 carried by the shaft of motor I9 creates a reduced pressure within the whirl chamber 29 and air is drawn in through the inlet port 6,

. through the air passageways I and 33, past the valve 43, and through conduit 32 into the whirl chamber. Practically all of the entrained foreign material is removed in'the whirl chamber and is collected within the dirt pan 8. The partially cleaned air enters the fan chamber inlet 24 and is exhausted therefrom through port 2! into the final dirt separator chamber 11. The air then passes through the final filter 64 and any remaining foreign material collects upon the exterior surfaces thereof. The entirely cleaned air then makes its way through the open end of the bag, through the bag ring 51, and through the passageway or port in the bulkhead l4 into the exhaust chamber 13 to escape from the machine at the exhaust port 4 in the end cap 3. So long as the machine'continues to operate as a suction cleaner the operationis as described. If the operator desires to use the machine for purposes of creating a positive pressure flow of air he merely connects the dusting tool unit to the exhaust port 4 rather than the inlet port 6.

After an extended period of use it will be desirable to clean the final filter 54 in order to reduce the back pressure which opposes the flow of air through the cleaner in response to the suction and pressure created by the fan unit 2|. The final filter is cleaned, asdescribed, by the operator depressing the foot lever 69 which results in the vibration of the bag G4 and the'dislodging therefrom of foreign material collected upon the exterior thereof which foreign material falls into the dirt pan 3'! and is carried therefrom through the conduit 34 back into the whirl chamber 29, the conduit 34 being opened by the valve 43 which simultaneously closes the inlet conduits leading to the inlet port 6, as described. The period during which manually operable pedal 63 is held depressed determines the length of time valve 43 is energized and held in a position to circulate the air in a direction to cleanse the final filter and return the scavenged dirt to the initial separator. Successive operations of the pedal and shaker mechanism may be for progressively shorter periods since most ifQnot all of the dirt on the final filter will be dislodged and returned to receptacle 8 during the first scavengingoperation. 2

In due time it will be desirable to empty the dirt receptacle 8 and this is accomplished by releasing the end cap 2, which, as described, is retained in place by any suitable manually operable latching. In this removal operation the inlet port 6 may be used as a handle and the end cap 2 and the dirt receptacle, preferably formed integrally therewith, is removed longitudinally from the cleaner casing, the end cap carrying with it the curved conduit 1.- Upon removal from the casing the dirt is removed from the receptacle 8 by the obvious method of inverting the receptacle after which the receptacle and the end cap may be replaced.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a filter in said casing, means to displace said filter abruptly to dislodge collected material therefrom, a dirt receptacle in said casing readily removable therefrom for emptying purposes, means to move a dirt-conveying air stream from said filter to said receptacle, valve means controlling the flow of said dirt-conveying air stream, and manually operable means to actuate said means to displace said filter abruptly and to opensaid valve means, as said filter is displaced whereby dislodged dirt is conveyed to said dirt receptacle.

2. .In combination in asuctlon cleaner comprising a casing divided into a plurality of dirt separator chambers by spaced bulkheads, a filter movably mounted on one of said bulkheads and extending into the final dirt separator chamber, means for periodically agitating the filter adapted to be actuated externally of said casing, and suction creating means mounted on another of said bulkheads adapted to discharge foreign material into an initial dirt separator chamber, said suction creating means operatively connected to the mean for agitating the filter and adapted upon agitation of said filter to scour the surface of the filter upon which foreign material impinges and discharge the foreign material dislodged fromthe filter from the final separator chamber into the initial separator chamber.

3. In combination in a suction cleaner comprising a casing divided into an initial separator chamber and a final separator chamber by spaced bulkheads, a filter movably mounted on one of said bulkheads and extending into the finalsep arator chamber, operatoroperable means for pe riodically agitating the filtenand combined blowing and suction creating means mounted on another of said bulkheads adapted to discharge foreign material into the initial dirt separator chamber and into the final separator chamber, said blowing and suction creating means operably connected to the operator-operable means for periodically agitating the filter and adapted upon agitation of said filter to scour the surface of the filter and discharge the foreign material dislodged from the filter from the final separator chamber into the initial separator chamber.

4; In combination in a suction cleaner comprising a casing having a bulkhead mounted therein forming a chamber, a filter movably mounted on said bulkhead and extending into said chamber and communicating to the exterior of said casing through an air discharge opening within said bulkhead, means for movably mounting said filter on said bulkhead including a filter support adapted to distend said. filter and "deform the surface thereof in a predetermined contour within the path of the fiow of air therethrough, said means for mounting said filter including a linkage for limited movement of said filter within the chamber, and resilient means for returning the filter to its original position, and operator-operable means movably mounted on said bulkhead and adapted to actuate the linkage whereby the filter is moved in one direction and returned to its original position by the aforesaid resilient means whereby the filter is violently agitated and foreign material on the filter is dislodged therefrom.

5. In the combination set forth in the preceding claim, scouring means automatically actuated upon periodic operation of the aforesaid operator-operable means adapted to scour the surface of the filter and discharge the foreign material dislodged from the surface of the filter from the aforesaid chamber. 7

6. In a suction cleaner of the type having an initial dirt separator, first air-conducting means connected to said initial separator, suction-creating means to move a dirt-laden air stream into said initial separator through said first air-conducting means and substantially clean air therefrom, and a final dirt separator including a filter to filter air which has passed through said initial separator to remove all remaining foreign material therefrom; second air-conducting means connecting the dirt collecting side of said filter to said initial separator, said second air-conducting means ending at a point spaced from said filter such that air from said initial separator is required to travelsubstantially the entire length 'of said filter't'operform a scouring dirt-dislodg= ing action on the surface or said filter before reaching the entrance to said air conducting means and opening into a dirt-receiving pan underlying said filter adapted to receive foreign material dislodged from said filter by gravity or by the scouring action of air moving thereover, and valve means selectively and alternatively controlling the fiow of air through said first and second air-conducting means to enable said cleaner to function as a suction cleaner or as a self cleaning unit to clean said final filter.

7. In combination, a suction cleaner having a casing provided with'initial and final dirt separation chambers, an air pervious filter in said final separation chamber, means for shaking substantially said. entire filter to dislodge dirt therefrom, means including a motor-fan unit for circulating an air stream through an entrance port from the exterior of said casing successively through said dirt separation chambers and back to the atmosphere during normal use of said cleaner, means including said fan for recirculating the air stream from the final separation chamber to the initial separation chamber periodically to conduct dirt dislodged by operating.

said filter shaking means from said final chamber back to said initial chamber and depositing the dirt in said initial chamber, said recirculating means including valve means normally closing off said re-circulating means operable to close off said entrance port and confine the air stream to flow through said re-circulating means.

8. A suction cleaner as defined in the preceding claim including a resilient support for said final filter, and means for extending said resilient support and suddenly releasing it whereby said filter changes its position abruptly to dislodge dirt therefrom.

9. In combination, a suction cleaner having a casing provided with initial and final dirt sep-Iv .8 aration chambers, means including a motor-fan unit for circulating an air stream through an entrance port from the exterior of said casing successively through said dirt separation chambers and back to the atmosphere during normal use of said cleaner, means including said fan for re-circulating the air stream from the final separation chamber to the initial separation chamber periodically to conduct dirt previously collected in said final chamber back to said initial chamber and depositing the dirt in said initial chamber, said re-circulating means including valve means normally closing on" said re-circulating means operable to close off said entrance port and confine the air stream to flow through said recir culating means, an air pervious, resiliently supported filter in said final separation chamber, and manually operable shaker mechanism connected with said filter operable to displace said filter abruptly.

10. A suction cleaner as defined in the preceding claim including means interconnecting said shaker mechanism and said valve means operable to shift theposition of said valve to cause air to flow through said re-circulating means when said shaker mechanism'is operated,

ll. A suction cleaner as defined in the preceding claim characterized in the provision of means for returning said valve to a position closing off air fiow through said re-circulating means after the final filter has been shaken and the dislodged dirt has been conveyed to said initial dirt separation chamber.

12. In combination, a suction cleaner having a casing, a motor-fan unit therein, means dividing said casing into an initial and 'a final dirt separation chamber, means for separating dirt from air in each of said chambers, means including said fan for conducting a dirt-laden air stream from a point outside said casing through each of said chambers and exhausting cleaned air to the atmosphere means including said fan for circulating air in a closed circuit through said separation chambers, a part of 'said circuit being located immediately above a dirt collecting surface of said final separation chamber so as to entrain dirt reposing thereon and conduct it to said initial separation chamber, and means for normally preventing 'fiow of air through said closed circuit.

13. A suction cleaner as defined in the preceding claim in which a portion of said closed air circuit is so located that a portion of the air fiowing therein Wipes across a dirt collecting surface of said dirt separating means in said final separation chamber.

14. In combination, a suction cleaner having a casing, means dividing said casing into an initial and a final filter chamber, means. including a motor-fan unit for directing a dirt-laden air stream through said chambers in succession and exhausting cleaned air to the atmosphere, means including said fan for circulating air in a closed circuit through said filter chambers, valvemeans normally closing said closed circuit to air flow, a filter in said final filter chamber, and means for dislodging dirt from said final filter by directing the circulating air against the dirt collecting side thereof whereby the dislodged dirt is conveyed by said circulating air stream to said initial filter chamber.

15. A suction cleaner, as defined in the preceding claim including means opening said normally closed valve during the operation of said dirt dislodging means for said final filter.

16. In combination with a suction cleaner having a casing, means dividing said easing into a plurality of filter chambers, means including a motor-fan unit for normally conveying a dirtladen air stream through said chambers in series, said last mentioned means including means operable at times to re-circulate the air through a closed circuit including at least two of said filter chambers and for preventing said re-circulation during said normal use of said cleaner, an air pervious filter in one of said chambers, said re-circulating means being so constructed and arranged that air flovv there through is confined to the dirt collecting side of said filter passes closely adjacent and in contact with the dirt collecting surface of said filter whereby dirt is dislodged therefrom and conveyed to another of said filter chambers.

17. A suction cleaner as defined in the preceding claim including means for agitating said filter when air is flowing in said closed circuit.

LOUIS K. ACHESON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

